Filmform is the oldest existing organization in Sweden devoted to the promotion, preservation and distribution of film and video art, often engaged as an advisor to museums, galleries, universities and festivals. Our collection includes titles dating from 1924 until today whereof 800 titles in distribution.

In the prologue of Excursion:Opus 2, the camera sweeps over nearly unidentifiable details on a sleeping man’s body, mixed with discontinuous images of the morning routines of two people and their preparation for an excursion. Subtle sounds of wind blowing are combined with squalling, inarticulate sounds of birds and frogs. The couple cycle through a dense forest, climb amongst ferns, and kiss to a soundtrack of classical music (without being overtly obvious or romantic) layered with birdsong, which gradually distorts into more psychedelic and frightening noise. Close-ups of the romantic couple, camera shots that follow the cyclists’ rush through the woods, and the couple struggling through the dense and almost unreal vegetation of bush and tangled pine, are woven together in an intense montage of dream-like and unworldly atmosphere.

About the artist

Born in 1939. Studied painting at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. Works as a curator and film maker. Lives in Stockholm. Chairman of Filmform’s board 1999-2012. Söderquist has curated several comprehensive exhibitions at Moderna Museet in Stockholm: “The Pleasure Dome”, American Experimental Film 1939-1979 (1980 in collaboration with Jonas Mekas), Nordic Film (1983), West German Experimental Film (1985 in collaboration with Birgit Hein) and Swedish Avantgarde Film 1924-1990 (tour in the US in collaboration with Jonas Mekas and Anthology Film Archives in New York).

Söderquist has also exhibited his own films and video works at the Center of Contemporary Art in Kristianstad (2014) and a solo exhibition of his work was presented at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (Stockholm 2013). His films have been screened at Avant (Karlstad 2006), Moderna Museet (Stockholm 2012) and Turbidus Film (Stockholm 2014).

To find out more about Söderquist: OEI #69-70: On Film (2015), Magasinet Walden (2012 i valfiskens buk), Passager (catalogue, two volumes, 2013)